How to Maximize the Average Lifespan of a Roof

A new commercial roof or a commercial roof replacement can cost anywhere from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s no surprise that building owners are always looking for opportunities to extend the lifespan of their roofing systems and eliminate the risk of a premature replacement. If that sounds like something that could benefit you, these are the strategies we recommend for maximizing the average lifespan of your commercial roof.

A commercial roof represents a significant investment for any organization. That’s why it’s critical to understand how roof replacements and maintenance affect your bottom line and set your organization up for success in the long run. One of the easiest ways to maximize the value of your investment is to maximize the average lifespan of your roofing system.
Commercial flat roof systems are already designed to last a decade or more. You can expect:

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  An EPDM roof to last 20 to 35 years
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  An TPO roof to last 20 to 30 years
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  An metal roof to last 30 to 50 years or more

By taking a few simple steps today, you can stretch those lifespans even further, and you’ll save yourself time and trouble tomorrow.

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  Schedule Routine Inspections
  When you get caught up in a frenzy of day-to-day work, it’s easy to overlook a routine inspection schedule. While one missed inspection isn’t the end of the world, a few missed issues can quickly compound into more urgent, costly problems that require time and money. Scheduling a routine inspection plan with a trusted roofing contractor ahead of time ultimately helps extend the service life of your roof. With the right roofing contractor, you can decide how frequently you want your roof inspected, and they’ll take care of the rest while alerting you of any issues or repairs that can go a long way to extending your roof’s life. While we recommend having your commercial roof inspected at least twice a year, you should, at minimum, schedule annual inspections and even consider scheduling inspections following major storms in your area.
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  Prioritize Roof Cleaning and Maintenance
  Scheduling routine roof inspections ahead of time isn’t the only thing you can do to extend the average lifespan of your roof. Over time, dirt, debris, and trash frequently build up on flat roof systems. When enough waste accumulates, drains become clogged, membranes wear down, and your roof can even become more susceptible to damage. An ongoing roof cleaning plan can go a long way in eliminating these issues before they occur. Along with regularly cleaning your building’s roof, choosing proactive repairs and preventative maintenance dramatically extends the service life of your roof, especially when compared to retroactive “quick fixes.” Proactive maintenance is generally more affordable, requires less downtime, and is less invasive. As a result, a proactive approach actually extends your roof’s life, rather than shortening it. Emergency repairs, on the other hand, may solve the problem today but are more likely to lead to larger issues in the future.

Many building owners make the mistake of choosing the cheaper roof installation or replacement option without considering the associated roof lifecycle costs that come with selecting cheaper materials. While cheaper materials may save you money up front, you often end up overspending on those materials in the long run.
Choosing higher-quality commercial roofing materials does more than extend the average lifespan of a roof—it also provides ROI opportunities like:

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  Energy savings
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  Fewer repairs
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  Simplified maintenance

New Image Roofing Atlanta is one of fewer than a dozen certified Duro-Last roofing contractors As one of the best commercial flat roof materials on the market today, Duro-Last roofs are fire retardant, have 85% fewer seams than conventional single-ply roofs, and offer best-in-class energy efficiency. Plus, they’re proven to outlast almost any other roofing material for reliability you can measure in decades.

If you’re ready to extend the expected lifespan of your commercial roofing system, today is the time to act! The more you prioritize your building’s roof today, the fewer problems you’ll run into in the long run. That’s why the experts at New Image Roofing Atlanta make it simple to start. We offer free roof inspections along with a free storm watch program, making it easy to assess your roof’s health today while developing a plan to maximize ROI tomorrow. Schedule a free inspection to get started.